One Year Later.......

Tres Generaciones

December 2000, Three Generations of the Torres Family, [Matamoros, Tamps., MEXICO]

One of my favorite pictures ever! I love that my grandpa & dad are wearing sombreros and I'm wearing a ball cap! My grandpa passed away 2 months after this pic was taken.



September 2005, my birthday dinner @ Ninfa's [Houston, Texas, USA]

My mom was so beautiful! She was so happy!

Random Thoughts............

...............from e-mails that I've sent to friends these past few days:

"I'm in a good place right now. The family is good, my friends are awesome, I'm keeping busy....."

"While watching a movie last week, I started crying..... Just had to let it out, ya know. I was in my room, alone, but I really needed someone to be there with me. My sister & brother were in the other room, but I didn't wanna bother them."

"Monday night I was talking to a photographer friend and he did the whole "I'm sorry about what happened....." speech. We sat down, had a beer, talked about life....... Its nice to know that people care........"

"My family and I are doing well. Holding together. Dad is back to work. Angel is trying to walk. Still so much to take care of, but we are doing it...... little by little."

You Are Beautiful.........

"There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles, from the desperate to the sheepish; but there is one order of beauty which seems made to turn the heads not only of men, but of all intelligent mammals, even of women. It is a beauty like that of kittens, or very small downy ducks making gentle rippling noises with their soft bills, or babies just beginning to toddle and to engage in conscious mischief--a beauty with which
you can never be angry, but that you feel ready to crush for inability to comprehend the state of mind into which it throws you."

from then novel "Adam Bede" by George Eliot

Happy Birthday............

......to me!

Yep, on this day, 27 years ago........ I, Marco Antonio Torres, was born. I don't remember much about that day, but I'm sure it was awesome! Well, maybe a little painful for my mom, but whatever...... :-)

I wanna thank Christy, Lucy, Derek, Darlene, & Jason for celebrating with me last night. I'm still feeling the effects of the drinks.....

Its strange "celebrating" anything this soon after my mom & grandma passing away. They are not here to cook me my birthday dinner or wish me a "Feliz Cumpleaños", but with the help of my family & friends I know I will be ok.......

My birthday wish is for everyone to hug their loved ones, tell them that you love them, that you forgive them (or ask for forgiveness), and be happy! My grandma said it best:

No se enojen, no se pelean... Al Fin que cuando uno se va de este mundo, no se lleva nada.

Don't get mad at each other, and don't fight... In the end, when we leave this world, we can't take anything with us.

Rest In Peace..........

One month ago today, at 6:58pm, I received a call that shattered my heart into a million pieces:

“This is Marco…..”
“Marco, this is your Tia Meño.”
“Oh, Hi Tia, how are you?”
“Are you sitting down?”
“What? Why?”
“I have to tell you something…..”
“Ok…. What is it?!”
“You’re not driving right now or anything are you?”
“Uhh, no. Just tell me, please!”
“There’s been an accident……..”

You see….. My parents, grandmother, little brother, & god-sister were on a trip to San Miguel de Allende, which is located in the Central Mexican state of Guanajuato. They drove down there in my parents 2003 Chevy Suburban for a quinceañera. From what I’ve been told, their trip was amazing!

It was Monday, July 30th 2007. They were almost back home. Forty-five minutes south of the Texas-Mexico border, in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, a Dodge Town & Country mini-van struck the Suburban on the passenger’s side. The impact flipped the Chevy on its side.

Sadly and tragically, the accident claimed the lives of my beautiful mother Rosie Torres, my beloved grandmother Daria Salazar, and my wonderful god-sister Graciela Aguilar Zermeño.

My mother meant the world to me. Actually, she STILL means the world to me! She, more than anyone, taught me how to be a good person. She taught me how to love! She taught me how to be happy, how to forgive, and how to be a good son & brother.

My abuelita…. I do believe she was the sweetest person that God has ever created! The cutest, shortest little woman with the biggest heart! I guess you have to have a big heart when you have 11 kids! And all of those grandkids & great grandkids!

Those two were ALWAYS together. I find consolation in the fact that they both passed at the same time. I’m not sure either one of them could overcome the grief if the other one passed away………

I still don’t truly understand why God decided it was time for them to go…… But who am I to attempt to understand God?! I know that my mom & abuelita are up there….. together. That’s really all I need to know……

I also thank God that my father, Lazaro Torres, and my brother, Angel Torres, survived the accident. My dad suffered several injuries, including 3 broken ribs and a broken nose, amongst other things. My brother has had 2 surgeries to repair a broken leg (right femur) and broken bones in his right foot. Both are slowly recovering and are doing well.

I’d like to thank my sister, Teresa Torres, and brother, David Torres, for everything. This has been a tough & stressful time for all of us, but we will overcome this together, as a family, just like Mom would have expected us to.

To the rest of our family & friends…….. there are no words that can express how truly thankful we are for your thoughts, prayers, & generosity. We are blessed to be surrounded by good people who care about us. Thank you!

I love you Mami! I love you Grandma!



Sinceramente,

Marco Antonio Torres